Pubdate: Mon, 29 Aug 2005
Source: Sunstar Cagayan De Oro (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Sunstar Cagayan De Oro.
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2983
Cited: US Drug Enforcement Administration http://www.dea.gov
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Pubdate: Mon, 29 Aug 2005
Source: Sunstar Cagayan De Oro (Philippines)

Editorial: Stained Reputation

CONCERNED government agencies should take action on the allegations of
bribery and extortion surrounding the regional office of the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 10 in order to prevent the
further deterioration of its reputation before the public.

In an apparent face-saving gesture, PDEA 10 Director Rene Orbe gave
what he said is P20,000 of his own money to regional director Virgilio
Mendez of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 10.

According to Orbe, he wants to make those responsible for the alleged
extortion feel guilty or fearful and thus either clear up the
controversy or at least admit to committing the act. Whether that
would be effective or not the public will know in a few days.

But if and when there was an alleged extortion attempt done by PDEA 10
officer Isah Taurac on suspected drug pusher Eric Jabagat, there is
little reason at all for them to either feel guilty or owe up to the
crime because any intention to commit a wrongdoing would have been
curbed by the notion that he or she would eventually be caught.

Thus Taurac or the other PDEA 10 officer caught in the alleged
kidnapping and extortion of the sister of Misamis Oriental First Dist.
Rep. Danilo Lagbas would not have resorted to committing these crimes
if in the back of their minds they know they'll be made to answer for
them.

This is not to say that Orbe had prior knowledge of these crimes or
was outright ignorant of these goings on within his office. Surely the
PDEA-10 chief isn't that ignorant of the inner workings of the agency.

If the latter case was true then it would be better if Orbe either
shape up and rein in his subordinates or if he was replaced by someone
who can not only arrest and stop the drug trafficking menace in Region
10 but can also catch and penalize PDEA-10 officers and other law
enforcement people who've crossed the line and committed
wrongdoings.

In his defense Orbe said some very powerful people wanted him out
because of the latest gains in the agency's drive against drug
trafficking in Region 10. One only has to remember that multi-million
peso shabu raid on a warehouse in one major department store to see
his point.

While one cannot rule out that possibility still the stink of the
alleged extort attempt done by officer Taurac and that earlier alleged
kidnapping of Lagbas's sister are hard to dispel.

Thus the burden of proof lies on Orbe and not on his accusers. And for
his sake as well as the agency's reputation, he'd better clean up this
mess clearly and immediately. 
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